The fifth new model to be spun from the current Mini platform, the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe is billed as the quickest, fastest, most agile iteration ever. In addition to being the firm's first-ever 2-seat offering, the new Cooper Coupe is also the most distinctively styled. Sharing many basic mechanical and powertrain components with its siblings, as well as the established Mini Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works performance hierarchy, the new Coupe arrives on the scene as an admitted niche player. Its mission is to reach both current Mini owners as well as conquest other young, adventurous, single and mostly male buyers seeking a lower-priced alternative to cars like the Audi TT Coupe, Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class and Porsche Cayman.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're a Mini fan willing to trade off a measure of utility for a serious bump in profile and even better dynamics than the Mini Hardtop – or just someone with a serious need for a 2-seat sports car that won't bust the average budget – the new Cooper Coupe could well find a place in your garage.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Even among Mini partisans, the 2012 Cooper Coupe's unique roof configuration is a point of visual contention. If an extra pair of seats takes real-world priority over a slightly more intense adrenaline rush, the Mini Hardtop still offers you an affordable and practical alternative that exacts only a modest fun-to-drive penalty.

What's New for 2012

Driving the marque into an entirely new market segment, the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe raises the dynamic bar for the Mini family and sets the stage for what the automaker promises will be an expanded lineup destined to include no fewer that 10 different body styles within the next 10 years.

with the turbocharged Cooper S and John Cooper Works models providing throttle-induced exhilaration that goes well beyond a baseline Cooper variant. And with its 149-mph top speed, the JCW Coupe is the fastest as well as the quickest production Mini model. Enhanced structural reinforcing and some subtle weight shifting elevates response to steering and braking inputs on all 2012 Cooper Coupes, while slightly stiffer suspension tuning makes them even more adroit corner carvers, and that's no small feat. However, opting for a JCW model does exact a palpable increase cabin noise and ride harshness on rough or uneven road surfaces. A final caveat: The Coupe's smaller greenhouse also compromises side and rear sightlines, particularly when the spoiler rises up at speeds above 50 mph.

Favorite Features

Sport Button Standard on all models, this console-mounted performance enhancer can increase steering effort and quicken throttle response at the touch of a finger. It also engages more aggressive shifting on models equipped with the Steptronic automatic transmission and adds a bit of snap, crackle and pop to the exhaust note of the turbocharged Cooper S and John Cooper Works models on deceleration.

Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)Standard on the John Cooper Works Coupe and available on all other models, driver-selectable DTC expands the capability of the standard Dynamic Stability Control by offering a third, even more enthusiast-oriented driving mode. It also incorporates Electronic Differential Lock Control that helps prevent the inside front wheel from spinning during hard acceleration out of corners when the DTC and stability control are switched off.

2012 MINI Coupe Details

Interior

Melding plenty of familiar Mini bits with a selection of dedicated trim elements, the cabin of the 2012 Cooper Coupe also embodies its own higher-profile identity. Although the view forward from its well-formed sport buckets is pure Cooper Hardtop, all Coupes feature specific color and accent combinations, including unique Carbon Black primary trim and an Anthracite headliner that has concave contours to enhance headroom. The rear seat gives way to a removable parcel shelf above a fixed bulkhead with a 14x8-inch lockable pass-through opening that leads to the Coupe's 9.8 cubic-foot trunk. Direct access to that impressively scaled stow space comes courtesy of a large, single-piece decklid.

Exterior

The Mini Cooper Coupe is the first Mini based on a traditional "3-box" body configuration. Although most basic dimensions (as well as its entire front clip and doors) are shared with the Hardtop, more steeply angled A-pillars, a unique steel "helmet roof" with integral air-channeling element, a hatch-style decklid and restyled rear quarters give the slightly lower-slung Coupe a more aggressive appearance – particularly the hot John Cooper Works version that also gets a bespoke body kit. All three variants feature an auto-deploying decklid spoiler and dedicated wheel/tire packages, with the Cooper Coupe wearing conventional 175/55 tires on 15-inch alloy wheels, the Cooper S shod with 195/55VR16 run-flat rubber and the JCW Coupe rolling on low-profile 205/45WR17 run-flats.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The basic feature set of the new Mini Coupe family mimics the roster of goods in the Mini Cooper Hardtop lineup. All three versions come with a full array of power assists, keyless remote entry, multifunction steering wheel, on-board computer, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/HD/Satellite Radio, antilock disc brakes, Dynamic Stability Control and six airbags. Beyond its enhanced powertrain and stouter suspension, the Cooper S adds items like upgraded/dedicated interior trim bits, sport seats and foglights, while the John Cooper Works cranks up the visceral volume with even more power, tauter chassis tuning and Dynamic Traction Control, as well a dedicated body kit and special trim pieces.

Optional Equipment

Like all Minis, personalization is the name of the game in the 2012 Cooper Coupe. Topping its conventional extras list are leather upholstery, specialized exterior/interior color and trim, Mini Visual Radio, Mini Connected telematics - with and without Navigation – a premium harman-kardon audio system, automatic climate control, adaptive xenon headlights, sport suspension, power folding mirrors, rear Park Distance Control, and rain-sensing wipers. Also available are Cooper/Cooper S Sport Packages, a Technology Package, and a John Cooper Works Package that adds JCW body-kit bits, Dynamic Traction Control and 17-inch wheels/tires to any model. Completing the individualization process for the Cooper Coupe is a near-endless array of accessory items.

Under the Hood

Motivation for the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe triumvirate is standard Mini fare, starting with the Cooper's 1.6-liter naturally aspirated 121-horsepower in-line-4. Stepping up to Cooper S spec nets a turbocharged/intercooled version that turns out 181 hp, while the range-topping John Cooper Works Coupe packs an extremely enthusiastic 208 turbocharged horses. Both turbo engines feature broad, flat torque "plateaus" ensuring great mid-range response, plus an "overboost" feature that can increase maximum torque output for short periods to further quicken acceleration. The standard transmission in all Mini Cooper Coupes is a super-smooth, 6-speed manual with the Cooper and Cooper S also offering an optional paddle-shiftable 6-speed Steptronic automatic. Each Coupe variant is marginally quicker than its Hardtop counterpart, with 0-60 mph times registering at 8.3, 6.5 and 6.1 seconds, respectively, for the Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works models.

"On my second Mini now (first was the original style 2010)... My first one was totaled in an accident, and SAVED my life, the front was completely destroyed and I walked out without a single scrape. Because of this, I bought the new Coupe that came out. BEST decision ever. Such a small car, I can fit anywhere and zoom around... super easy to drive too. It feels like I'm driving a go-kart which makes it so fun. I can go on.. My next car will definitely be another Mini, perhaps the Paceman. I recommend this vehicle to those young, old, whatever. And the young-at-heart like myself.. Minis seem to do best with us fun people."

"It is the type of car that I drove only on Sunny,Spring/Summer days. Cute with Go-Cart like speed/handling. What surprised me was the low resale value, even with low milage(30%+ hit). In spite of good MPG, would not recommend as a daily driver but rather a small,sporty styling,2 seat mini that will turn heads.
Need the turbo-charged version and convertible top and armrest for the best motoring experience."

"I have had this car for almost 3 months in Chicago. This is by far the best automobile I have owned. I enjoy and have owned my fair share of high end foreign vehicles, this one seems to stand out more than the rest. It could be that it has plenty pep due to the turbocharged engine. It could be due to the comforts of the interior and stylish exterior. It could be that it does not have rear seats for back seat drivers. Or simply put, an awesome car to drive and enjoy. All I can say is fun fun fun.........love this car!"

"Wow! I have driven the JCW for 10 months and its performance still excites. It handles like a go-cart! Yes it's a 2 seater, but what is the advantage of an empty rear seat? Instead you get a useful trunk. The surround sound system delivers incredible sound! Six forward gears, turbo, and a 208 hp engine is a temptation to take it up to 150. As an engineer, it isn't the hp itself. The hp/weight is a better measure of performance, but torque/weight = acceleration. That's the name of the game! The car's low stance, rear spoiler, wide tires, and firm suspension give incredible handling! Since it uses a Saab designed turbo, there is no turbo lag, but you need to keep rpms over 2000 to get full turbo. Fuel injection works with the turbo to match the fuel with the air supply. Dynamic timing increases the spark advanced to suit the rpm. Even driven hard by me, I am getting 32.3 mpg. Less aggressive driving gets 35.
Comfortable bucket seats with side support are important if you are making 0.5 g corners. The dash is like a cockpit.
The brakes are huge and the stopping distances very short.
The tach is right in front of the driver, where it should be in a sports car. (BTW, a car w/o a tach is NOT a sportscar!) In the center of the dash is a huge speedometer. This recalls the location of the speedometer in the Mini's of the '60s when they were a popular car for rallies. I was often the navigator in the right seat of the Minis of those days. That was before calculators, and I did computations with a slide rule and you got a better look at the speed when it was centrally located.
There are 2 banks of switches, aircraft style, one low in the central dash & the other above the windshield. The heater/air/air conditioners are controlled by two rotary switches, one for the fan and the other for the temp. A third rotary switch controls air distribution.
The rear view mirror must be set carefully. When done so, you get a full view of the entire rear window without the rear spoiler getting in the way. The seat heights and length are manual.
With the standard tires I passed many snowtire equipped cars on my way up the steep hill in 3 inches of snow this winter.
This is an ideal car for a sports car enthusiast. It is most like a Porsche at a third of the price!"